Door locking devices



April 25, 1967 w. OESLER DOOR LOCKING DEVICES Filed April 7, 1965 ATTORLIEY United States Patent Ofitice 3,316,005 DOOR LOCKING DEVICES William Oesler, 57 Union St. E., Apt. 203, Waterloo, Ontario, Canada Filed Apr. 7, 1965, Ser. No. 446,197 11 Claims. (Cl. 292-296) My invention relates to conventional door locks employing a latch bolt and strike plate, and more particularly to devices combining a locking element with the strike plate to lock the door from the inside. To be efficient, a device of this kind must be simple in construction, easy to install and use, and reliable in operation; and it is therefore one object of the present invention to provide a locking device whose basic part is an improved replacement of the standard strike plate.

A further object is to bridge the meeting area of the door and the jamb in the locking region with a broad locking plate which combines with the improved strike plate to bar the door against being forced open from the outside.

Another object is to extend the improved strike plate with an element which checks the insertion of a knife or other implement in the direction of the latch bolt to open the same without the use of a key.

A still further object is to provide a safeguard designed to reinforce and retain the locking plate in positive engagement with the strike plate.

An important object is to construct the novel locking device only in two pieces, and in a manner to be installed by any person without the need of skill.

A better understanding of the invention may be gained by reference to the accompanying drawing, in which FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the meeting portions of the door and jamb showing the improved locking device installed;

FIG. 2 is a plan section on the line 22 of FIG. 1, showing the door and doorknob in elevation;

FIG. 3 is a perspective View of the locking plate before use; and

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the improved strike plate.

Referring specifically to the drawing, Jill denotes a fragment of the door closed from the inside, and 11 a fragment of the jamb, in the region of the latch bolt 12. The latter and the doorknob 13 are shown in FIG. 2.

The improved strike plate is shown at 15, being of sturdy metal and identical in shape and size with the conventional type. The strike plate 15 has the usual holes 15a for the application of screws to fasten the strike plate to the jamb. Also, the strike plate has the usual rectangular opening 15b in the center for receiving the latch bolt 12, as shown in FIG. 2.

For the purpose of the present invention, the strike plate is cut with alined slots 15c from the upper and lower edges to define a neck portion 15d projecting a wing 15c inwardly. In the projection of the neck portion from the strike plate a pair of horizontal steps 15 are formed first, and a pair of pockets 15g are formed next, in the sides of the neck portion.

The locking plate 18, shown more clearly in FIG. 3, is of the same material and approximately the same size as the extended strike plate 15. At the top of the locking plate is extended with a finger hook 18a. In the center a long, narrow slot 18b is cut in the locking plate from the bottom. At one side, a stud 20 is secured to the locking plate, and projects with a head 20a on the same side as the finger hook 18a; and a bar is freely pivoted with one end portion on the stud, the other end of the bar being formed with a roll 25a usable as a handle to swing the bar from the pendent position of FIG. 3 to the horizontal one depicted in FIGS. 1 and 2. The locking plate also has a nodule 180 in the swinging path of the bar 25; and the 3,316,005 Patented Apr. 25, 1967 later has an indentation 25b designed to snap over the nodule 18c when the bar reaches the horizontal position and retain the bar therein.

In' the application of the locking device, the strike plate 15 is first secured to the jamb 11 as a replacement of the standard strike plate. Thus, when the door is closed, the steps 15f, pockets 15g and wing 15c of the strike plate will project into the premises to a limited extent-such as three-fourths of an inch. Now the locking plate positioned as in FIG. 3-may.be placed against the adjoining areas of the door and jamb as shown in FIG. 1 and slid downwardly with the slot 18b straddling the neck portion 15d of the strike plate in line with the steps 15 until the locking plate stops on the upper step. Now the bar 25 is swung up to span the divisions of the locking plate and seat in the lower pocket 15g of the strike plate as shown in FIG. 1, becoming supported in this position by the engagement of the indentation 25b with the nodule as stated above. The device is now in locked position; and it may be unlocked by reversing the steps in its application, the finger hook 18a then being handy for raising the locking plate olf the strike plate.

It is noted now that the upper slot of the strike plate provides a clearance for the easy insertion of the locking plate to straddle the neck portion of the strike plate. When the locking device is engaged as seen in FIG. 1, the upper and lower portions of the wing 15c combine to form backstops against the locking plate in case the door is pushed inwardly. In this event the bar 25 bridges the divisions of the locking plate as a reinforcement resisting side or twisting strains imposed by the door on the locking plate and designed to bend it out of the way and allow the door to be opened.

FIGS. 2 and 4 show a leaf-spring guard riveted to the strike plate and projecting from the opening 15b in the path of approach to the latch bolt 12, and designed to check the insertion of a tool, such as a strip of plastic, for forcing the latch bolt to recede. The spring guard 39 may also be of benefit for the novel locking device to bar the same tool from reaching the locking plate and forcing it away from the door-engaging position.

It is now apparent that the novel locking device goes beyond the basic idea of a bridging element for a door and jamb, and an extended strike plate formed as a backstop. First, the novel assembly presents the picture of a pair of sturdy plates joined in crossing relation, onethe locking plate--broadly bridging the adjoining door and jamb portions where it is undivided, while the other-the strike plate projects an enlargement behind the locking plate, with a cross-bar to back and reinforce the divided portions of the locking plate. Further, the bar is part of the latter, and readily swung into barring position after the locking plate has been applied and lowered in front of the wing 15c. Finally, the device is quite simple, and of a nature to be installed by any person handy with a screw driver.

I claim:

1. A locking device for a door closable against a jamb comprising a strike plate recessed from the top with a slot to define an outer portion having latch-receiving means and attachable to the jamb, an inner latch carnming wing, and an intermediate neck portion; and a locking plate formed with a slot from the bottom and applicable to the inner side of the door when the latter is closed, the locking plate adapted to be lowered with the slot straddling said neck portion, and the wing then forming a backstop for the locking plate in case the door receives opening pressure.

2. The structure of claim 1, the strike plate disposed in crossing relation to the locking plate.

3. the structure of claim 1, and means carried by the locking plate for bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side.

4. The structure of claim 1, and means carried by the locking plate for bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side, and means extended from the wing as a backstop for said bridging means.

5. The structure of claim 1, and a bar hinged to the locking plate and foldable from a free state to bridge the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side, and means extended from the wing as a backstop for the bar in the folded position.

6. The structure of claim 1, and a bar hinged to the locking plate and foldable from a pendent position to a horizontal one bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the solt from the inner side, and means extended from the Wing as a backstop for the bar in the folded position.

7. The structure of claim 1, the strike plate also recessed from the bottom to define a lower wing portion, and a bar hinged to the locking plate and foldable from a pendent position ot a horizontal one bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side, said lower wing portion forming a backstop for the bar in the folded position.

8. The structure of claim 1, the strike plate also recessed from the bottom to define a lower wing portion, a bar hinged to the locking plate and foldable from a pendent position to a horizontal one bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side, said lower wing portion forming a backstop for the bar in the folded position, and yieldable means to maintain the bar in such position. I

9. The structure of claim 1, the strike plate also recessed from the bottom to define a lower wing portion, and a bar hinged to the locking plate and foldable from a pendent position to a horizontal one bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side, said lower wing portion forming a backstop for the bar in the folded position, the locking plate having a nodule in the folding path of the bar, and the latter having an indentation causing the bar to snap over the nodule at the end of the folding movement.

10. The structure of claim 1, the neck portion also recessed from the bottom to define a lower wing portion and form a pocket adjacent to the outer edge of the same, and a bar hinged to the locking plate and foldable from a pendent position to a horizontal one bridging the locking plate portions adjacent to the slot from the inner side, said pocket receiving the bar when folded, and said lower wing portion then forming a backstop for the bar.

11. A locking device for a door closable against a jamb comprising a strike plate having an outer portion with latch-receiving means and attachable to the jamb, an inner latch camming portion projecting inwardly from the jamb, a locking plate applicable to the inner side of the door between the portions of the strike plate and co-operative with said inner portion to bar the door from being opened, and a projection from the jamb toward the door forming a bar to the insertion of an implement in the direction of the locking plate, said projection being a flange struck out of the strike plate and bridging the space between the door and the jarnb.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 692,083 l/l902 Spear 292292 848,817 4/ 1907 Fleming 292-296 866,548 9/1907 Wilkenson 292292 1,267,647 5/1918 Everett 292295 1,495,712 5/1924 Nester 292-204 2,665,935 1/1954 Patterson 292292 2,726,112 12/ 1955 Conhagen 292--34O X 2,816,788 12/1957 Henry 292346 r MARVIN A. CHAMPION, Primary Examiner.

RICHARD E. MOORE, Examiner. 

11. A LOCKING DEVICE FOR A DOOR CLOSABLE AGAINST A JAMB COMPRISING A STRIKE PLATE HAVING AN OUTER PORTION WITH LATCH-RECEIVING MEANS AND ATTACHABLE TO THE JAMB, AN INNER LATCH CAMMING PORTION PROJECTING INWARDLY FROM THE JAMB, A LOCKING PLATE APPLICABLE TO THE INNER SIDE OF THE DOOR BETWEEN THE PORTIONS OF THE STRIKE PLATE AND CO-OPERATIVE WITH SAID INNER PORTION TO BAR THE DOOR FROM BEING OPENED, AND A PROJECTION FROM THE JAMB TOWARD THE DOOR FORMING A BAR TO THE INSERTION OF AN IMPLEMENT IN THE DIRECTION OF THE LOCKING PLATE, SAID PROJECTION BEING A FLANGE STRUCK OUT OF THE STRIKE PLATE AND BRIDGING THE SPACE BETWEEN THE DOOR AND THE JAMB. 